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Ógra – Government see young people as expendable

Ógra Shinn Féin today reacted with disgust to the Budget, in particular singling out the cuts in Jobseekers Benefit for scathing criticism. In announcing its intention to take the streets forcefully, National Organiser Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire stated that this budget indicated a complete and utter lack of interest in Young people from the government, who clearly see them as expendable.

Mr. Ó Laoghaire said:

“The track record of the government in terms of young people is far from enviable – they did their very best to introduce student fees, they inflicted enormous cuts in education, and on community services.

“This Budget is surely the most scandalous and shocking example of this governments callous and short sighted disregard for young people.

“Brian Lenihan spoke in terms of protecting the vulnerable, and of the young being the greatest resource we have. However the Government’s actions speak far louder than their words. They seem almost determined to cast an entire generation to the scrapheap, whilst they write blank checks for the Banks.

“The reduction of the jobseekers benefit will trap many in poverty and encourage more to emigrate, and the cuts to social welfare will inflict significant hardship on many Irish young people. These cuts are short sighted in the extreme, and the money saved is a pittance to the potential loss of young people to our workforce.

“Ógra shinn Féin will be actively campaigning on this in the weeks and months to come, and to highlight the difficulties many young unemployed people face in the current climate. Brian Lenihan targeted the young unemployed, which constitutes some 25% of all young people, because he thought they would not fight back. We intend to prove him wrong.” ENDS